View full sizeBurton City Council members prepare rib samples for judges during the inaugural "Guns & Hoses" rib cook-off competition Sunday, Aug. 25 at Kelly Lake Park. The competition pitted firefighters, police and council members against each other, with firefighters taking home the title of best ribs.Roberto Acosta | MLive.com

BURTON, MI -- With a little patience, Burton firefighters took home the inaugural "Guns & Hoses" rib cook-off Sunday at Kelly Lake Park, besting police and city council members for bragging rights over the next 364 days.

"We knew we were going to win," laughed Fire Chief Doug Halstead, after firefighters bested police officers by two points and were named overall champions. "I stole a rib and went over and gave it to the police so they at least came in second."

"It was three different tastes. They were all very different," said Cross of the entries. "They were all smoked pretty good."

There was some smack-talking prior to the final results, with Councilman Steve Heffner stating "You just now tasted the winning ribs" as he and Councilwoman Ellen Ellenburg boxed up three rib samples for judges atop a bed of greens before closing the white Styrofoam boxes.

Cheryl Sclater, business and community development manager for ELGA Credit Union, said the event was a fundraiser for the Burton Chamber of Commerce, but firefighters also provided donations from pulled pork sandwiches they were giving away to the Pack The Truck program which provides free schools supplies for Burton area children.

"I think it was a fun event," said Ellenburg. "We can play off it for next year and come up with some new ideas."

Aside from the music, bounce houses and vendors, Sclater said the event was about bringing the community together.

"It's good to see our fire, our police, our city council," said Sclater, noting the the barbecue event will return once again in 2014. "Our community has come together (for this)."Roberto can be reached by phone at 810-429-3865, email at racosta1@mlive.com, on Facebook at Roberto Acosta Journalist or on Twitter @racostaJourno.